Launch Day Blitz: Dark Sacrifice by Angie Sandro

Mala
LaCroix sees dead people—really. After using her psychic gifts to catch
a killer, she's locked in a psych ward and must strike a deal with the
devil to secure her release. Apprenticed to a dark arts practitioner,
Mala vows to free herself and save her loved ones from danger. But she
doesn't know who to turn to when her crush on Landry Prince turns into
something more serious.

A FATE WORSE THAN DEATH

Landry
has sacrificed everything to protect Mala. A near-death experience
changes him forever, and now he, too, possesses supernatural powers he
doesn't understand. Mala and Landry must band together to defeat the
dark forces—both human and otherworldly—who would use their abilities
for evil. Even as they fall for each other, they must prepare to battle
for their very souls . . .

On Saturdays, the local farmers set up a market in Paradise Park. I
plan to do my veggie shopping there since I didn’t get my garden planted
this year. The streets bordering the park are packed. I’m lucky to find
a spot in the parking lot of First National Bank kitty-corner from the
Memorial Rose Garden. Colorful tents are lined up in orderly rows in the
square. Each section is separated, with the organic foods in one row
and regular folk who want to sell extra produce in the other. Local
shops also set up booths selling everything from pastries, coffee and
tea, handmade clothing and soaps, fresh eggs, organic meat, and toys and
games. A freaktastic clown stands on the street corner with a tank of
helium and a gaggle of kids around him. I’m tempted to buy Landry a
balloon to cheer him up. The passenger door slams shut as soon
as I shut off the engine. Landry wastes no time coming around to open my
door and lift me to the ground before I can squawk in protest. He
strides off while I grab my cloth shopping bag, leaving me to stare
after his retreating back in shock. When he’s halfway across the street,
he pauses and turns around. “This is your idea. Hurry,” he yells. “I’m
coming.” I shut the door and run to catch up. When I reach him, he
moves around me until I’m on his blind side. He starts forward again,
but slows his steps so they match mine. If I didn’t know him so well,
I’d think he didn’t have a care in the world, but I do. He walks like he
did in jail—shoulders back and tight, chest slightly raised. He scans
the area, alert for a threat. I take his hand, squeezing when he tries to pull away. We
blend into the crowd, strolling up and down the rows. It’s a mix of
people of all ages. A few people say “hi.” Most don’t. A large
percentage of them stare. I feel like I’m at the mercy of paparazzi. “Smile and wave,” I mutter from the corner of my mouth, jabbing Landry in the side with my elbow. “Huh?” “You’re
acting like you’ve done something wrong, but you haven’t. Don’t let
these fools see you sweat. Weakness breeds violence. Like a silverback
gorilla in the jungle, you need to beat your chest and fling your poop
at someone.” His snort-laugh doubles him over, and I pat him on the back. “That’s perfect,” I say. “No worries.” He
turns and lifts me into a breath-stealing hug. “Thanks,” he whispers in
my ear and presses a brotherly kiss to my forehead. Wish he’d move his
lips a little lower. Would a few inches kill him? My voice comes a little thick and raspy too, and I cough to clear my throat. “No problem.” How
long has he been standing here holding me? We have an even larger
audience than before. Now we really are the object of paparazzi-like
behavior as people snap pictures of our embrace with their phones. I
wrap my arms around his neck and press my cheek against his. “Cheese,” I
say, grinning for the cameras. A couple of high school kids start to laugh. One yells, “Give her another kiss, Landry.” “Yeah, Landry. Give me a kiss.” I bat my eyelashes, whispering in his ear, “I swear if you drop me on my ass in public—” I don’t have to finish the threat. His mouth steals across mine.
I lean into him, head tilting. My arms tighten around his neck. His
lips are soft and juicy, like peaches. Yum. My thoughts scatter and
swirl, leaving only the sensation of his mouth on mine. He
breaks free first and lowers me to my feet. He avoids my gaze. “Did it
work?” he asks, running his fingers through his black hair so it falls
forward to shield his eye again. He shifts from his forward foot to his
back which somehow puts distance between us without him having to move. I
laugh, playing off the hurt. “Yeah, we gave our fans a titillating bit
of new gossip to take the place of the old. Rumors about our
relationship will be flying through town before lunch.” I glance around
to be sure. The crowd drifts away, realizing there’s nothing more to
see. Even better, nobody hurls insults or throws dead animals at our
heads. “Let’s go.”

Angie Sandro was born at Whiteman Air Force Base
in Missouri. Within six weeks, she began the first of eleven
relocations throughout the United States, Spain, and Guam before the age
of eighteen. Friends were left behind. The only constants in her life were her family
and the books she shipped wherever she went. Traveling the world
inspired her imagination and allowed her to create her own imaginary
friends. Visits to her father's family in Louisiana inspired
this story. Angie now lives in Northern California with her husband,
two children, and an overweight Labrador.